Dispensing container for spreading particulate material



May 14, 1968 N. s. WATERMAN 3,383,019

DISPENSING CONTAINER FOR SPREADING PARTICULATE MATERIAL Filed June e. 196e 2 sheets-sheet JNVENTOR. NeZ .S Wafer/aah May 14, 1968 N. s. WATERMAN l 3,383,019

DISPENSING CONTAINER FOR SPREADING IARTICULATE MATERIAL Filed June 8, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR. Ned .S Waerman 72 31004, Buckles 3c' Cesari 4 Hrzwzzm'yst United States Patent O 3,383,019 DISPENSING CONTAINER FOR SPREADING PARTICULATE MATERIAL Neil S. Waterman, River St., Stamford, Conn. 06901 Filed June 8, 1966, Ser. No. 556,002 8 Claims. (Cl. 222-151) ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE Disclosed herein is a dispenser for spreading particulate material on a at surface. A Ihollow container body enclosed by a separate or integral cap is provided with slot-shaped openings cutting 'across a planar corner of the cap. A `cover lits over the cap and is provided with projecting ribs at its inner surface which intert with the slot-shaped openings to seal the dispenser. One rib is shaped to frictionally engage is mating slot to maintain the cover closed. A hinge connects the cover to the dispenser.

This invention relates to a container for particulate material. More particularly, it relates to a container having dispensing openings disposed over the top front corner thereof to en'able particulate material contained therein to be spread upon a surface.

The application of particulate materials, such as powders, to surfaces of limited larea has, in the past, presented certain problems. The prior art dispensing containers for such materials are the well-known shaker type which contain dispensing holes more or less centered on the upper surface. It is diicult to direct the iiow of particles shaken from such a container, and thus, considerable waste and an uneven coating are usually the result. In certain applications, an even coating of particulate material is highly desirable, if not necessary. Thus, for example, in the 4application of powdered deodorant to sanitary napkins or the application of particulate materials such as sulfa or other medicants to surgical dressings, an uneven coating which leaves portions of the coated surface exposed can be relatively ineffective for its intended purpose.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser for spreading particulate material on a surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of the above character -by means of which an even coating of particulate material can be achieved without waste.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of the above character which is easily iilled with particulate material and then sealed for use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of the above character which is readily covered when not in use to prevent spilling or contamination of the contents.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of the above character which can be readily molded from polymeric material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of the above character which is simple in design, economical to manufacture, and rugged in construction.

FPice Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention 'accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE l is an exploded front perspective view of the dispenser of the invention with the cover open.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the dispenser with the cover closed and partially broken away.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation view of the dispenser with the cover closed, showing portions partially broken Iaway to illustrate the interior construction.

FIGURE 4 is partial side elevation view of the dispenser with the cover closed, taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a partial side elevation view similar to FIGURE 4 but with the cover open, taken along the line 5 5 of FIGURE 3.

FIGUR-E 6 is a rear perspective view of the dispenser Ias used in spreading particulate material on a surface.

FIGURE 7 is an exploded front perspective view 0f another embodiment of the dispenser of the invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to FIGURE 1, in Ageneral by dispenser corn- .prises a hollow container body 10 closed 'at one end 12 and open at the other end 14. It may be formed of any suitable material but is preferably molded from a polymeric material such as polyethylene or polypropylene. Preferably, the sides of the body 10` are concave to provide strength and ease of handling. A cap, shown gen- I erally at 16, interits with the open end 14 to seal the dispenser after it has been lilled with particulate material. A plurality of dispensing openings 18 overlap the top front corner 20 of the cap 16 and communicate with the interior of the body 10 so that particulate material can be spread upon a surface by running the corner 20 therealong as shown in FIGURE 6. To prevent spilling of the contents, the openings 18 are closed by means of a cover 22 which fits over cap 16.

More specifically and again with reference to FIGURE 1, the cap 16 is a substantially rectangular member comprising a relatively planar top 24 surrounded by a dependent skirt 26 adapted to fit, in part, within open end 14 of container body 10. As shown in FIGURE 2, the sides 28 and 30 of c'ap 16 are concave in shape to conform to the concave sides of container body 10. The dependent skirt 26 is stepped (FIGURES 1 and 3) to provide a ledge 32 adjacent either end 28, 30 of cap 16. A projecting ridge 34 encircles the lower edge 36 of dependent skirt 26, and a corresponding ridge 38 (FIG- URES 3, 4, and 5) projects from the inner surface of container body 10 adjacent open end 14. As shown most clearly in FIGURE 4, ridlges 34 and 38 interlock when cap 16 is pressed into open end 14, holding ledge 32 against upper edge 40 of container body 10 to effect a secure snap-fit closure.

A plurality of dispensing openings 18 are formed in a recessed portion 42 of cap 16 on the corner 26 formed by the intersection of planar top 24 and the front portion of skirt 26. In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1, the openings 18 comprise a plurality of straight-sided slots cut transverse to front corner 20. However, the number, size, shape, and spacing of the openings may vary with the type of particulate material to be dispensed and the type of surface to be coated; it only being necessary that they be on or overlapping corner 20. With the openings 18 thus disposed, particulate material can be coated evenly and without waste when the dispenser is tilted and its edge 20 moved along a surface 43 as shown in FIG- URE 6.

A cover 22 is provided to seal openings 18 and prevent spilling of the ycontents when the dispenser is not in use. The cover 22 (FIGURE 5) is a attened U shaped member, the ilat top-Hap 44 of which is adapted to fit within the recessed portion 42 of cap 16 as shown in FIGURE 2. Cover 22 may be a separate member, but preferably the dependent rear ange 46 is connected to the rear portion of skirt 26 by means of an integral exible hinge 43 as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. Thus, cap 16 and cover 22 can be molded as a single unit. A protruding ledge Si) extends from the front tiange 52 of cover 22 to facilitate the opening and closing thereof by means for the thumb.

As shown in FIGURES 1, 3, and 4, a plurality of ribs 54 project from the interior surface 56 of cover 22 between front ange 52 and top-tiap 44. The ribs 54 correspond in size, shape, spacing, and number to the dispensing openings 18 in cap 16. Each rib 54 interiits with its corresponding opening 18 when cover 22 is closed, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. The ribs 54 thus seal the openings 18 to prevent spilling of the contents of the dispenser. In addition, the movement of ribs 54 in and out of openings 18 as the cover is opened and closed keeps openings 18 free of caked particulate material. The ribs 54 also serve to strengthen and stiften cover 22.

As shown in FIGURES 1, 4, and 5, one rib 58, preferably the central rib, is formed at a slightly shallower angle to the top-tiap 44 than the other ribs 54. The end of rib 58 adjacent flap 44 is cut-oil to form a shoulder 60. When cover 22 is closed, shoulder 60 frictionally engages the upper edge 62 of corresponding opening 18 (FIGURE 4), thus forming a frictional closure which prevents the accidental opening of cover 22.

Another embodiment of my dispenser is shown in FIG- URE 7- It is identical to the embodiment of FIGURE 1 in all respects except that cap 16 is formed integrally with container body 19, while a base portion 64 is removable for filling container body 1t) with particulate material. Similarly to the cap 16 of the embodiment of FIG- URE 1, the skirt 66 of base portion 64 is stepped to form a ledge 67 and is encircled by a projecting ridge 68 at its free end. A corresponding ridge 70 projects from the interior surface of container body 10 adjacent open end '72. When base portion 64 is pressed into open end 72, ridges 63 and 70 interlock, holding ledge 67 against bottom edge 74 of container body 1.0 and eecting a secure snap-tit closure.

Thus I have provided a dispenser for particulate material by means of which an even coating can be applied to a surface of limited area without the waste attendant the use of the shaker type dispenser of the prior art. My dispenser is easily filled and can be securely sealed against spilling when not in use. Its design is simple and it is easy to use and rugged in construction. Moreover, it can be economically molded from polymeric materials.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A dispenser for spreading particulate material contained therein on a substantially flat surface comprising, in combination:

(A) a hollow container body;

(B) a cap enclosing one end of said container body comprising (1) a top portion,

(2) means `forming a substantially planar top front corner on said top portion, and

(3) means forming on said top front corner at least one opening communicating with the interior of said container body, whereby a coating of said particulate material can be evenly spread by tilting said dispenser and moving said top front corner over said flat surface; and

(C) a cover (1) adapted to tit over said cap, and (2) having sealing means for sealing each said opening against spilling of particulate material.

2. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said container body has one open end and said cap is a separate member adapted to interlockingly tit within and close said open end, whereby said container body can be joined with said cap after lling with particulate material.

3. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said cap is integral with the walls of said container body, and further including filling means whereby said dispenser can be filled with particulate material.

4. A dispenser as defined in claim 3 wherein said container body has an open end opposite said cap and wherein said lling means comprises a base portion separate from said container body and adapted to interlockingly fit within and close said open end, whereby said container body can be joined with said base portion after iilling with particulate material.

5. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said sealing means comprises a projection on the interior surface of said cover adapted to intert with each said opening when said cover is closed.

6. A dispenser for spreading particulate material contained therein on a substantially flat surface comprising, in combination:

(A) a hollow container body;

(B) a cap enclosing one end of said container body comprising (l) a top portion, (2) means forming a substantially planar top front corner on said top portion, and (3) means forming on said top front corner a plurality of openings communicating with the interior of said container body,

(a) said openings being formed in the shape of slots cut transverse to said top front corner whereby a coating of said particulate material can be evenly spread by tilting said dispenser and moving said top front corner over said flat surface; and

(C) a cover comprising (1) a top-ap having dependent front and rear flanges and adapted to overlie said cap with said front and rear flanges respectively adjacent front and rear portions thereof, and

(2) a plurality of ribs projecting from its interior` surface between said front iiange and said topflap corresponding in size, shape, spacing, and References Cited number with the slot-shaped openings in said UNITED STATES PATENTS cap, whereby upon closure of said cover said -ribs intert with said openings to seal said dispenser against spilling of particulate material. 5 2828894 4/1958 Zimmerm'a'n": 222485 7. A dispenser as defined in claim 6 wherein at least 3:0231938 3/1962 Johnson 222 565 one said rib frictionally engages at least one edge of its corresponding opening when said cover is closed, to pre- FOREIGN PATENTS vent accidental spilling of particulate material. 1,070,355 12/ 1959 Germany.

8. A dispenser as defined in claim 6 wherein an integral 10 flexible hinge interconnects said rear ange of said cover ROBERT B' REEVES Pnmary Examiner' with said cap. HADD S. LANE, Examiner. 

